MG L2 Magna 1933

Here we have it - MG L2 Magna - no. 58 off the production line of 90 cars. Arriving in New Zealand in 1935.

It was hill climbed for a while in the late '50's running a 1622cc BMC with Weber side draught carb which replaced the original 1087cc overhead cam six cylinder engine. Most likely to clean up all the competition - power to weight ratio for the time would have been phenomenal!
The early '60's saw coachwork replacing the Ash frame with tubular steel componentry.

The latest chapter is the purchase of a K series 1087cc six cylinder returning that part back to normal. I'm keeping an eagle eye for required parts that surface on the net or otherwise.


As time and money allow L2 will get its much deserved new lease of life. Anyone seeing this with any interesting spares kicking around in the shed.....do get in touch if you want to get floor space back again :-)



A selection of photos of L2058 as it sits at the moment. I have a new body with ash frame from Steve Gilbert in the UK that has landed. The Engine has been rebuilt and a gearbox acquired. The next phase is strip down and remove the existing body for replacement and get on with the chassis to restore to it's former glory.  

Stay tuned for 

Dumb Iron knuckle and Bonnet Hinge with matching Chassis number stamped from the factory in 1933.

DUCATI 944 DESMO

THE PROJECT To build a big bore Desmo special from a 1989 900SS

I swapped on old FZR1000 for an untidy 1989 Ducati 900SS in need of attention!!
On returning from the UK after 11 years I brought back an arsenel of Ducati parts in the suit case. So of course its a waste to have it sitting idol.....

Solution - get a knackered 900 and cut it up abit and weld it back together to take a new body, big exhaust, and tougher mill.

The slicing began with cutting the back half of the frame off and welding up a new rear to take a QB Carbon 955 Corsa single seat unit and high rise pipes. Then we strengthened the head stock and braced it.

Body work was obtained from SPR Racing in Nottingham UK. They grafted a carbon SuperMono full fairing off an original bike - give that man unlimited beer for his trust :-)
And a bloody nice job they made of it too. So that was fitted up along with a 1999 900SS tank.

Then came the engine. Courtesy of Dave Cole Motorcycle Engineering a VeeTwo 944 piston kit was fitted and the internals impeccably balanced by Dion Colemen of White Metal Bearings. Dave put it all together and tuned in the 38mm Keihen Flatslides further down the track.

A 48mm exhaust system was made up by Chris Beaumont - how loud??? The perfect safety device for any motorcycle.....of course!!




After a splash or RED and some gloss over abit of carbon, Dave jetted it on the dyno and voila - one lighter and faster than usual 944 special.

The bike is now in the trusting hands of an ex John Britten team player who is adding his personal touches to it - what could be better than keeping it a project work in progress........

PROJECT TR-V8

Purpose : convert my perfectly good clean and strong TR6 into a V8 Roller Skate.
Why : Discovered a Lexus V8 fits so.....well why not.

The car : 1976 Triumph TR6 - purchased 3 years ago from Houston Texus and exported back to NZ, this one is a non rusty and very straight example that needed a new coat of paint, new soft top and seat covers.

The straight 6 was in need of a rebuild too and thats when the enthusiests would say it went pear shaped, John lost is way, and that man should be hung drawn and quartered!!





I found a Toyota Supra W58 5 speed and was offered a 4 ltr Lexus quadcam V8. Hmm let me see $10k to rebuild the original mill to 200hp OR squeeeze the V8 under the bonnet ($3500) and have a reliable fun toy. As long as it can be put back to original then YES. So thats where I'm at - one V8 installed with minimal cuting and no bumps in the bonnet.

For now its save up for body off clean up, all important chassis strengthening and suspension upgrade. Also want to purchase 'Goodparts' uprated rear hubs and CV axles and a disk brake conversion. So far I've accumulated a Revington TR coil over kit, Holden V8 Comadore LSD, hard top, new soft top, right hand drive conversion parts and new seat cover kit.

I'll update as soon as the next stage begins